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March 2022
Volume 2 Issue 3
Dear Alliance Community,
On Friday, March 11th at 5pm, Los Angeles area independent schools sent their admissions decisions to the Alliance Candidates and families of Cohort 38. Alliance Families, like all families, were expected to make their final decisions on a school by March 18th. Appropriately, that date coincided with the Alliance’s Incorporation Day (March 19th), marking the 37th year of the incorporation of the Alliance as a nonprofit organization.
The Alliance has supported families for more than 35 years by demystifying the independent school admissions process. After nine months' worth of hard work and “heart” work, it has been inspiring to speak with families about the results of their labor. Indeed, our Alliance Candidates have persevered and earned acceptances to member independent schools throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, remaining flexible through ever-changing circumstances. Throughout the cycle, our students and their families went on school tours, spoke to family and friends, submitted what seemed like a ream of (digital) paper to the admissions offices, analyzed their budget to make sure they could afford independent school tuition and fell in love with a (maybe more than one) school.
From the very beginning of this process, our team worked closely with students and families to broaden their exposure to different independent schools to find schools that match their interests, values, academic profile, and have the greatest chances of meeting their demonstrated financial need. The team at the Alliance has continued to innovate programming, from virtual office hours and panels with schools and admissions staff to financial aid and decisions workshops, application review, and individual counseling throughout the application cycle. We submitted approximately 450 applications on behalf of the cohort with early data revealing an acceptance rate of 86%.
To the Families of Cohort 38: your dedication, vulnerability, and fidelity to the Alliance process were unmatched. Thank you. In honor of the Alliance’s Birthday (March 19th), we want to congratulate all of you on finding a school community to call your own. We look forward to watching your student or students benefit from and contribute to their new school community!
In partnership,
Rob Evans
Executive Director
Calling All Alliance Alums
Let the Alliance Community know what is new in your life! We'd love to connect and reconnect!
In the World of Admissions
Notable Quotes from the Cohort 38 Admissions Cycle
COUNSELING & GUIDANCE
“The initial engagement with our child was warm, inviting, and the questions asked were age-appropriate. She [sic] was fully engaged and interacted in such a way that her personality really showed. Allowing us to speak freely and give our evaluations of what type of school/environment our child can thrive in and then getting feedback on suggested schools to research was very helpful. There is a wealth of knowledge about the schools that is immensely helpful.”
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL EXPLORATION
“The Independent School Alliance has been a tremendous resource for our family. The experience has opened our eyes to what we are looking for in a school community for our daughter.”
PROGRAM IMPACT
“No words will ever fully give me the opportunity to express my gratitude and deep appreciation for all of you. Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you because truly you've given me keys to put on my keychain and it will be easier for me to open more doors in this world. Sincerely”
FAMILY FRIENDLY FLEXIBILITY
“I appreciate everything you all do for the Alliance families. I wanted to add that the reason I feel virtual was very convenient because since we are in the Pasadena area it made it easier to participate. The first time around when we were applying to kindergarten it was difficult to go to the Westside for events. Thank you.”
SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE
"We literally loved every applicant family you sent our way — and are honored and thrilled to have the XXXXX and XXXXX families joining our community!"
Current Information Session Dates
1. Thursday, April 7th - 6:00 - 7:30 PM - Virtual
2. Thursday, April 21st - 6:00 - 7:30 PM - Virtual
3. Saturday, April 30th - 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM - Virtual
4. Saturday, May 14th - 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM @ YWCA of Glendale
5. Tuesday, May 31st - 6:00 - 7:30 PM @ Curtis School
Sign up for one of the upcoming information sessions listed above by clicking here!
Upcoming Events
Welcome Our Newest Board Member
Kirsten Albrecht has been a member of the Advisory Council for the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs since 2019 and also served as an Event Co-Chair for the 2021 Across Colors Diversity Conference.
As an attorney, Kirsten clerked for the first female justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and was a litigation associate at Kaye Scholer Fierman Hays & Handler. She is the founding director of the Kinship Care Project at Bet Tzedek Legal Services where she assisted grandparents who were rearing their grandchildren and is a nationally recognized adoption advocate. Kirsten lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two teenage children who attend independent schools.
Alliance is Hiring a Director of Programs!
The Alliance is looking for a new
Director of Programs!
Check out the announcement to learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3kRpFvb
Resources
Alec Foster (Chadwick ‘15) Shares His Story on Bullet Points: Hot Topics on Gun Violence Prevention (podcast)
Alliance Enrolled Student”
Mychal-Bella Rayne: Mychal Bella is a Golden Globe/7 Emmy-nominated actress and model based in Los Angeles. Most recent project, Underground Railroad, won the 2022 Golden Globe Award for best Miniseries or TV film. Mychal is a lifetime philanthropist, collaborating with nonprofit organizations in areas from animal advocacy to anti-bullying to cystic fibrosis awareness. A gifted reader from a young age, Mychal seeks to empower others to master their passions through literacy and representation.
View her website @ https://mychalbella.com/
Alliance Alumnae
Kimberley Baker Guillemet
(Marlborough, '96)
Shares Her Story in a recently released book titled Black Prep: Life Lessons of a Perpetual Outsider, a how-to guide for not just surviving, but thriving in the face of adversity in independent schools.
Visit her website @ https://www.theblackprep.com/
Harvard-Westlake School’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion enthusiastically invites your student leaders to participate in our inaugural HW Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (SLIDE) Leadership Development Program (LDP) from Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to Thursday, June 23, 2022.
